Inking mechanism for printing machines



June 26, 1945. 1. H 2,378,926

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 5, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4&2.

INVENTOR avg g g a ATTORNEY June 26, 19450 w. F. HUCK 2,378,926

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES File ad Oct. 5, 1942- 5 SheetsJ-Shxeet 2- i 5 M 6 lNVEf JTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1945 poration of New York INKING MECHANISM FOR MACIIINES a William F. Huck; Richmond HilljjpN/Y assignor to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New

PRINTING 1 York, n. Y., 9

Apnlicationoctober 5, 1942, Serial No. it-0,371"

15Claims. (Cl. 10l -350) l This invention relates to printing machines, and more particularly to improved ink distributing mechanisms for rotary printing units in which ink is fed under pressure from ink rails 'toink receiving "cylinders which form components of rotary ink" distributing mechanisms which are constructed and arranged to work the supplied ink into a uniform film and deposit it on rotary printing forms. i In existing inking mechanisms of this type, the

ink distributing cylinders and rollers usually rotate in one directionjand the ink is supplied to a selected ink cylinder of each ink distributin mechanism from an ink rail which has an arch-- n ate face that is held adjacent the link cylinder at one side thereof, so that the ink is deposited on,

the peripheralsurface of the cylinder.

A commercial demand now exists for printing units in which the printing cylinders and the components of the ink distributing mechanisms v rotate inboth forward and reverse'directions to permit the webs to be run in both directions through the units. 3

It is'an object of this invention toprovide an improved inking mechanism for rotary printing s units in which ink is supplied under pressure from an ink rail to an ink receiving cylinder in such manner that the cylinder may be rotated in forward and reverse directions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved inking mechanism for rotary printing unitsin which ink is supplied under pressure from an ink rail to' an ink receiving cylinder in such manner that the cylinder may be rotated in forward and reverse directions, the ink rail being adjustable for movement to and from the cylinder and which is yieldingly supported in any selected adjusted position i 1 i A further object ofthis inventionis to provide an improved inking mechanism for rotary printing units in which ink is supplied under pressure from an ink rail toan ink receiving cylinder insuch manner that the cylinder may be rotated in forward and reverse directions; the ink rail being adjustably movable by power driven means and securablein predetermined positional relation to the periphery of the ink receiving cy1-' inder and yieldinglysupported in this position.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved inking mechanism for rotary printing units in which ink is supplied under pressure from an ink rail having an arcuate face to an ink receiving cylinderin such mannerthat the cylinder may be rotated in forward and reverse directions, the ink rail, being adjustable to dispose itsa'rcuate face in eccentric'relation to the peripheral surface-of th ink receiving cylinder.

A specific object of this'invention is to provide an improvedinking mechanism'for rotary print- .ingunitsin" whichuink 'is supplied under pressure from an inkrail having an'arcuate face to anink receiving cylinder in such manner that the cylinder may'bc rotated forward and reverse directions, theink rail being adjustable for movement radially to and from the cylinder and yieldingly supported in anyfselected adjusted pcsitio'n; thefinkrailfals'b'being laterally adjustable to dis? pose its: arcuate facein eccentric relation to a the peripheral surface of thecylinder so that'the space defined between the peripheral surface cf the cylinder and the arcuate face of the rail is narrower at theflink discharge side of, the rail than at itsopposite side. v

t isjalso a nl bjectiof this invention to prcvide an improvedjinkingfmeohanism for rotary printing units whereby; the improved mechanism will be simple; durable andinexpensive in construction, asljwell as convenient, practical, serviceable, andeflicientinitsuse other objects in view,

ith the foregoing and which will appearlasthe descriptionproceeds; the

invention resides in the combination and arrange ment ofparts andin the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understcod that :various changes in form, proportion and minor detailstof construction may be made vvithin the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any advantages of the invention.- v

For a complete disclosureof the invention, a

detailed description thereofrwill now be given in connection with, the, accompanying drawings forming a partof the specification wherein;

Figure'l is an-end elevation of a rotary printinglunit having the device forming the subjec matter of this invention 'applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a side1elevation; of 't he printing unit depicted 'in jFigur e l and sho wing the invention appl ed heret a it V Figure} is an enlarged fragmental side elevatiomseen. in the "same direction as Figure2,'parts beingshown'in section; 1

a n 1 1 Figure 4' is a vertical sectionalview taken on the line 44 of ted; v j i n Figure 5 isa fragmental viewsimilar to Figure 4, b'lll2 showing the improved ink rail in adifierent cooperable position with; relation to the ink receiving and distributing cylinder; and 1 Figure 3, remote parts being oi'nitand arrangement may be readily applied to other types of rotary printing machines. The unit includes a frame having side members I I which-r tatably support two printing couples, and each each terminal thereof. Each gib 35 is supported for lateral or transverse movement in its gib-way 36 by pins 38, which are carried by the gib and loosely received for axial movement in cylindrical recesses 40 formed in each gib support 31. Each gib support has threaded apertures 4| or 4111 exv tending laterally therethrough adjacent its upper and lower terminals for the reception of screws 42 of determined length, and these screws have enlarged heads 43 provided with radial apertures "for the reception of a conventional pin wrench,

printing couple includes an impression cylinder l2 and a plate or form cylinder I3, which-cylinders are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings l 5 carried by the frame side members I I.

Each plate or form cylinder l3 has ink suppliedthereto through an ink distributing mechanism,

and each ink distributing mechanism including an upper ink distributing? cylinder l'6 and a lower ink receiving and distributing cylinder l1 operab'ly supported by the machine frame in conventional manner. The ink distributing cylinders l6 and H are operably engaged by conventional ink distributing and transfer rollersl8, and the plate cylinders 13' are operably engaged by conventional form rollers which also engage per ink distributing cylinder l6.

This arrangement perm-its convenient application of the invention thereto, although itis to be understood, of course, that the invention may be applied to other forms of printing units and ink distributing mechanisms therefor.

Ink is supplied to each ink receiving, and. distributing cylinder I! from an improved ink rail22 which extends across the printing unit in' parallel relation to the ink receiving cylinder. I1, and it is adjustably supported atitsopposed terminals, as disclosed hereinafter. The ink rail 22 supports a conventional ink pump 23 at one terminal thereof, and ink is forced from this" pump through separate conduits 25 that are housed or nested in a longitudinally extending recess 26 formed in the ink rail 22, and each conduit communicates with an ink discharge throat or orifice 21 (Figures 3, 4,5) formed in the upper portion of the ink rail. The ink rail maybe formed of a single piece of material, but a preferred arrangement is one in which its upper terminal is formed by providing the uprail sections; 22a and 22b (Figures 4 and 5') which are secured to a projection 24 formed at the up per terminal of the rail body by screws 28 (Figure 5), or other suitable securing devices. Each ink rail is preferably rectangular in cross section, and has an arcuate orcylindrical face 29, the axis of which is located in avertical plane that passes through the central portion of the rectangular ink rail, and'the radius of the cylindrical face 2 9"is substantially the same as the radius of the periphery of the inkreceiving cylinder l1. Slide blocks or brackets 30 (Figures 4, 5, 6) are rigidly secured in opposition to the lateral face of the ink rail 22 adjacent its terminals by screws- 33 (Figure 4), or other suitable securing devices'.- Each block" so is bifurcated at its upper'andlower terminalsto provide recesses which receiverollers' 3 I, and each roller 3| is rotatably supported on a pin or shaft 3: carried by a bifurcated terminal of the bracket The'peripheral faces of the rollers 3| engage adjusting bars or gibs" 35 which are loosely received in gib-ways or recesses 36 formed in verticallydisposed gib supports of members 3lloeated in opposition at the sides of the ink rail 22 adjacent not shown. When the screws 42 are threadedly received in the apertures 4| (Figure 4) with their heads in engagement with the outer surfaces of the gib supports 37;, the opposed terminals of the screws engage a gib and force the gib inwardly,

so that the inner longitudinal face of the gib is spaced" 9; short distance from and in parallel relation with the vertical back wall of the gib-way 36, fora reason to be hereinafter explained.

A guide plate 45 issecured to the outer faceof each gib support 31- by screws 46 whichextend throughcylindricalapertures formed in the guide plate 4-5-and gib support 31 and are threaded into a side-member H of the machine frame to thereby rigidly secure each guide plate 45 to its gibsupport 31;) and each gib support to-the side member II of the machine frame. The inner longitudinal portion-of each plate 45 overhangs the innerpor-H tion of each gib support 31 to define a guideway 41 between the outer face of the supportingside member H and the inner'iace of the guide plate 45 to-slida-bly receive a bracket or slide block 30. By this arrangement, the ink rail 22' is guided for vertical adjustment relative to the ink receiving;

cylinder; I by the sliding movement of each'block '30 in its guideway 41, and the rolling engagement:

of the rollers 3|: with the gibs 35.-

Cylindricalelevating members or screws 5i] and 50a (Figure 2) are rotatably received in cylindrical apertures 5! formed. in the ink rail ,body adjacent its longitudinal terminals, and each screw is held against axial movement in its aper ture 5| by a screw 52 that has: a cylindrical inner terminal which is received in an annular groove 53 formed in the shank of each screw: A sprocket 54 is secured tothe shank ofeach screw below the ink rail 22, and a bearing ring or washer: 55

thesha-nk of the screw, and this gear meshes With" a; pinion carried by a shaft 5i which is driven from an electric motor 62 through a conventional speed reducing mechanism indicated at 63. The screw 50 has a larger diameter portion 64 preferably formed integral therewith that abuts the 10W,"

er terminal of the hub of the: gear 51 to maintain it in position when the set screw 58 is loosened, and also to support the ink rail 22. The lower portion of each screw 5001'" 5811 is threaded, as indicated at 65, to threadedly engage similar threads formed in the inner portion of a bushing:

66 (Figure 4) which has anenlarged head or flange 61 formed at its lower terminal. bushing 66 is slidably receivedin a cylindrical aperture formed in the lower portion of a bracket 59 which is provided with a'supporting flange 10' that is secured to a side member H of the machine frame, and each bushing is held against rotatable movement relative to the bracket 69' Each ceivesIthe ink rail22 andpermitsufree vertical b'y pins'ill which are carried by the bushing and are received for axial sliding movement in recesses 1 12 "formed inthe lower portion of the bracket. I I

Eachbracket 59 has a cylindrical recess-I3 formed therein for the reception of helicalcompression s'prings" 15,which springs engage the end 'wall ofthe cylindricalrecess I3 attheir lower terminals; and the upper terminals of these springs engage an adjusting collar 16 which is threadedly I 'ofeachbushing 66 in order to lock the adjusting collarfw in any selected position withfrelation toitsbushing. The motor and gear arrangement provides power means for rotating the screws and 50a,

I :inthelarge head 43 of each screw,the inner teradjustment ismade by simply inserting the screws 42 in the threaded apertures 4| *in the left hand Igib support 3 'When these screws are screwed fhorne byapinwrench or other suitable tool, not s'hown,'whichis received in the apertures formed I in'inals of the screws 42 engage the left gib 35, as

viewedinjifigured, and forces this gib a slight distanceoutwardly, butmaintains it in parallel relation to its glb-way 36. This gib, in turn, en-

gagestherollerstf located at the left side of the ink rail and forces the ink rail to the right. This lateral movement of the ink rail also moves the gib atthe" opposedsid of the machine to itsinner lateral limit within its gib-way. In this relationshipjwhen the ink rail 22 has been adjusted byrotatin'g the'screws 50 and 50a, either by power or manually, so that the left terminal of its arcuate face 29 contacts or is positioned immedi- ;at ely adjacent the peripheral surface of the cylinas will be more fullyexplained hereinafter; and

the screws 50 and 50a alsojhave' wrench engaging surfacesiiifl; formedjat their upper terminals for thereception of a wrench or crank, not shown, so

that the screws 50 may be manuallyrotatedby loosening the set screw 58. I

Each side member II of the machine frame is I "provided with an opening 82 (Figure 3) which re- I movement of the ran therein; A stop or lirnit screw 83 is threadedly secured to the upper portion l of theIink rail adjacent each terminal and is located toIIabut the upper wall 85 of the opening .I

82 to limit the upward movement of the ink rail, forIapurpose to be hereinafter explained. I Each screw 83 is provided with a wrencheng aging portion, 1w permit the screw to bero tat edso that its upper terminal is positioned a predeterrnined disao ried by the head 61 of thebushing, so that down ward movement of the bushing will actuate this limitiswitch. The limit switches Bland 81' are of conventional construction and are located in a conventional motor control eleotriccircuit and operate to stop the motors at the-upper and lower limits of travel of the ink rail, as will be more fully riexplained hereinafter. The motors are controlled by the usual push buttonin the electric circuit, andthese buttons maybe located at any convenient place to control the opera- ,tion of the motors, Inasmuch as the electric der I'Lan arcuate gap or space is formedbetween I l the peripheral surface of the ink cylinder I I and the arcuate face29 of therail, the gap progressively 'widenirigas the opposite side of the rail is approached, thusestablishing an eccentric relationship between the arcuate face 29 of the ink rail-and the peripheral surface of the ink cylinder I'I. The upwardmovement of the ink rail 22 is limitedby the contact of its arcuate face 29 with the peripheral'surface of the inkcylinder, or, if preferred the contact of the stopscrews 83 with the stop surfaces 85 (Flgure3) formed in th side member I I of the machine frame. The yieldable support of the ink rail and the eccentric relationsliip'between the arcuate face 29 of the ink rail and theperipheral surface of the ink cylinder I'I permits the ink rail to be so adjusted with relation to the ink cylinder as to substantially close the space between the ink railand the cylinder at the ink discharge Side of the rail. Although the discharge side of the rail substantially engages the surface of the ink cylinder I I, a gradually widened space is provided as the opposite side is approached, thus allowing ample space between the I rail and cylinder to receive the supplied ink from the rail outlet orifices 21. I

In this arrangement, the railj22 may be adjusted much closer to the ink cylinder II than is possible with the conventional ink rail where the rail is rigidly secured to the frame of the ma- In this improved arrangement, if the ink require}- motor @control circuit is well known byIthose skilled in the art, the circuit has not been: illustrated in this application. I 1

When themotor 62 is employed to raise and lowerlt he ink rail 22 for cooperable relationwith the periphery of the ink cylinder II; th electric 3' circuit is established to rotate themotor, which,

I inturn, rotates the screws 50- and 50a through the drive pinions BILgear 51, sprockets 54 and chains I In operation,Iwhen the web Wofthe printing unit III is being run throughthe unit in, such diI- vrection as to cause the ink cylinderII'I to rotate inclockwise direction (Figure 4),theink rail 22 l is; adjusted for such operationby manipulating I the screws 42 to locate the arcuateface 29 of-the ment for the printing operation is greater than the amount of ink that could be supplied from the dischargeIIside of the ink rail, then the rail "willbecrowdedL downwardly away from the cylinderIbyIthesupplied ink, so that the requisite quantity is fed from the rail to the cylinder in a uni- I p mnlm- I I I the direction of operation of the printing limit is toIbeIIreversed, then the screws 42fare lremoved fromtheapertures 4| in the left gib support, as viewed in Figur 4, and positioned in the apertures (He in the right support 3'I,,as shown in Figuresj and 6. In this location, the right handgibQis' forced-towards the ink rail thereby moving an inkrail to such positional relationship .to the ink distributing cylinder I I that the arouate gap defined between the periphery of the ink distributingcylinder i1 and the arcuate face 29 or the ink rail is progressively widened as the left peripheralsurface of the ink cylinder 11. This hand side oijthe rail is approached; In, this-relay I tionship, the 'inkcylinder ll -is operatedin a forward or reverse, direction,

counter-clockwise direction, as indicated ;by the arrow in Figure ,5, but the ink "feeding operation islsimilar to that hereinbefore described.

to the motor, thereb discontinuingits operation.

In adjustably movingeachinkrailZl-towards the ink distributing cylinder 11, the upward movement of the rail is limited, as stated, by the-engagement of'the arcuate; surface 29 of the rail with-the peripheral, surfaceof the ink distributing cylinder L1, or by the engagement of the stop screws 83 with the stop surfaces 85.- After the upward movement of arailis arrested, continued rotation-of its supporting screws will cause the bushings 66 to move downwardly against the ten sion of the springs vuntil the projection 88, carried by thehead 61 f thebushing, engages the limit switch 81 to openthev circuittothemotor.

In black printing, or in printing of a character that does not require frequent cleaning of the components ofthe printing unit, the motors 62 may be omitted and the adjustment may then be manuallyl rnade bysimply applying a wrench or crank, not shown, to the rectangular heads 80 of the screws 50, thereby rotating these screws to adjustably move the ink rail. u l

In-color printing, .or otherprinting of thecharacter where frequent cleaning of the unitcomponents is necessary, motor operation ispreferable and hand operation is resorted to only in caseof motor failure. v, I

With the construction, and arrangement; disclosed in this application, a uniform film of ink is supplied, to eachfink receivingl cylinder l1, and the ink cylinders may operate in either ,In the commercial use of this idevicethe ink rail, in most instances, islocated below the axis of an ink cylinder, but in cer'tain color comthe limit switch 86 and opens theelectric'circuit I printing machine-having a rotatable inkycylinder, 1 an ink rail having an arcuate face substantially conforming to the periphery ofthe -ink cylinder and a plurality of aligned ink outlets located atthe intermediate portionof the arcuate face, from which outlets ink-is fedunder pressure to the periphery of the cylinder, the arcuate :iace of the ink rail being located below the cylinder in ink feeding relation thereto .with' its: intermediate portion and ink outlets positioned yerltically below. the axis of the cylinder whereby ink may be fed tothe cylinder periphery from the outlets and moveupwardly with the cylinder from the ink rail at either side thereof, and power operated meanslto move the rail vertically towardsand away from the cylinder. I J

3. In .a force feed inking mechanism for a ink is fedto the cylinder, and means tolposiJ- tion the ink rail inink feeding relation to the binations, units are, provided in, which the. inkillustrative and not restrictive:

WhatIclaim is: e

I. In aforce feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatableink cylinder, anink rail havin'gan arcuate'lface substantially' conforming "to theperiphery off the ink cylinder and a plurality of ,and aligned with ink outlets in the arcuate face arranged in parallel relation to the axis of the ink cylinderand from:

whichink is fed under pressure to'the'periphery of the cylinder, power operated means to move therail vertically towards anc l 'away from the cylinder to locate it infeeding relation 1 to the periphery of the cylinder with thqmidpoint of the arcuate/face and ink outlets positioned belQw the cylinder and substantially in a yerticalplane which passes through the cylinder axis. .f

2. In 'a,force'feed inking mechanism for a t at the other.

than at the other.

cylinder with its arcuate face slightly eccentric to the cylinder periphery whereby the spacebetween the said arcuate face and the cylinder periphery may be greater at one side'of the link rail than at the other. 4.'In ,aiorce feed inking mechanismfor a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder,.an ink rail having an arcuate .face substan 5. In a force feed inking ,mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder, an ink rail having an arcuate face substantially conformingfto the periphery'of the'ink cylinder and ink outlets located at the intermediate portion of the arcuate face from which outlets ink is fed under pressure to the periphery of the cylinder, the arcuateface of the inkrail being located below the cylinder in ink feeding relation thereto with its midpoint positioned substantially vertically below the axis of thecylinder whereby ink may be fed to thecylinder periphery from the outlets andmove upwardly thereonfrom the ink rail at either side thereof, means to move the rail towards and awayfrom the cylinder, and means to position the ink rail with its arcuate face slightly eccentric to the cylinder periphery whereby-the space between the said arcuate face and the cylinder periphery may be greater at one side of the ink railthan 6. In a force feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotating" ink cylinder, an ink rail having an arcuate facesubst'am tially conforming to the periphery of thecylinder and a plurality of ink outlets in the arcuate face from which ink is fed to the cylinder, periphery, means to yieldingly support the ink rail for radial movement away from the cylindenfandmeans to position the ink rail in ink feeding relation to the cylinder with'its arcuate face disposed slightly eccentric to the cylinder whereby the space between thes'aid arcuate face 'and the cylinder periphery is less at "the inkdis'chzir'ge side of the 'rail than at the other so that the pressure of the ink in the space between, the

arcuate face and the periphery of the rotating ink cylinderwill force the yieldably supported ink rail away from the cylinder sufficiently to accommodate the required quantity, of feeding ink.

7. In a force feed inking mechanism for a means to move the entire rail radially towards and away from the cylinder and yieldingly support the rail in any selected position, and means to move the rail tangentially with respect to the arcuate face is disposed in eccentric relation to the cylinder periphery whereby the space befed under pressure to the cylinder periphery,

ink cylinder to position the ink rail so that its tween the said arcuate face and the cylinder periphery may be greater at one side of the rail than at the other.

8. In a force feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder, an ink rail having an arcuate face substantially conforming to the periphery of the ink cylinder and ink outlets from which the ink is fed under pressure to the cylinder periphery,

power driven means to move the entire rail radially towards and away from the cylinder and yieldingly support the rail in any selected position, and means for automatically discontinuing the operation of the power driven means when the .ink rail has reached thelimits of its intended movement towards and away from the ink cylinder.

9. In a force feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder, an ink rail having an arcuate face substantially conforming to the periphery of the ink cylinder and ink outlets from which the ink is i fed under pressure to the cylinder periphery, guide members to support the ink rail for radial movement towards and away from the ink cylinder, means for moving the entire rail along the arcuate face and the cylinder periphery is less at the ink discharge side of the rail than at the other side thereof.

11. In a force feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder, an ink rail having an arcuateface substantially conforming to the periphery of the .ink cylinder and ink outlets from which the ink is fed under pressure to the cylinder periphery, a screw rotatably secured to the ink rail and operable to move the entire ink rail radially towards and away from the cylinder, means to rotate the screw, and means to yieldingly supportthe screw" to thereby yieldingly support the rail in any selected position relative to the ink cylinder.

12.In a force feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder,an ink rail'having apertures therein radiallydisposed relative to the ink cylinder and an arcuate face substantially conforming to the periphery of the ink cylinder and ink outlets in the face from which the ink is fed under prs- Y sureto the cylinder periphery, a guide to support the ink rail for radial movement towards and away from the ink cylinder, screws received in the aperture and rotatably secured to the ink rail and operable to move the entire ink rail radially along the guide towards and away from the ink cylinder, means to simultaneously rotate the screws, and means to yieldingly support the screws to thereby yieldingly support the rail in any selected position relative to the ink cylinder.

13. In a force feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder, an ink rail having an arcuate face substantially conforming to the periphery of, the ink cylinder and ink outlets from which the ink is fed under pressure to the cylinder periphery, guide members to support the ink rail for radial movement towards and away from the ink cylinder, a screw ,rotatably secured to the ink rail and operable to move the entire ink rail radially along the guide members towards and away from the ink cylinder, means to rotate the screw, and

means to yieldingly support the screw to thereby yieldingly support the rail inany selected position relative to the ink cylinder.

14. In a force feed inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotatable ink cylinder, an ink rail having an arcuate face substantially conforming to the periphery of the ink cylinder and a plurality of aligned ink outlets in vertical alignment with the axis of theink cylinder from which outlets ink is fed under pres sure to the cylinder periphery, means to move the entire rail vertically toward and away from the cylinder, and means to yieldingly support the der, an ink rail mounted for movement radially to and from the ink cylinder, the ink rail having apertures therein radially-disposed relative to the ink cylinder and havingan arcuate face substantially conforming to the periphery of the ink cylinder and ink outlets in the face from which the ink is fed under pressure to the cylinder periphery, screws received in the apertures and rotatable relative to the ink rail and operable to move the entire ink rail radially towards and rail in any selected position.

15. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a rotatable ink cylinder, an ink rail disposed in substantially parallel relationship to radius of the ink cylinder, and means to position the ink rail in ink feeding relation to the cylinder with its arcuate face disposed eccentrically less at the ink discharge side of the rail than at the other side.

WILLIAM F. HUCK. 

